Automobile construction



H. BREWSTER AUTOMOBILE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11. 1938 INVENTOR ffenr fir wser M .ATT RNEYS June 27, 1939.

June 27, 1939. H. BREWSTER I AUTOMOBILE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1938 VINVENTOR Hen fiWZ'er ATT RNEY Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I AUTOI IOBI I QxXz STRIUCTION Applicl tiollalzarz (lziastaLNu. 195,242

The present invention relates to automobile constructions and particularlyrelates to a method of arranging or positioning automobile hardware in combination with automobile doors.

' The usual automobile hardware constructions. particularly the handles for opening and closing the doors and for raising or lowering the windows, project from both'the interior and exterior sides of the doors. They not only often tend to catch and tear the clothing of the user of the automobile, but in addition, frequently cause inury.

It is, therefore, among the objects oi the present invention to provide an improved hardware arrangement for automobile doors, in which the various handles will be positioned onand combined with the door in such a manner that there will be no liability of the clothing of the user being torn, without any decrease in the accessibility of said handles and without increase in the difiiculty of manipulation of the same.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory to provide a concealed door handle construction in which the handle 'will be retained inside of a recess, preferably by a cover plate and in which the handle will be projected or may be moved into the position in which it is'to be utilized when said cover plate is removed.

This may be done either by a spring which will press the entire handle structure outwardly and which may be received in a telescoping structure in the base of the handle, as in the pivot mount thereoi. Or it may be done by providing a biasing spring which will incline the handle inwardly in the recess, but which will permit withdrawal of the handle when the cover plate is withdrawn,

In the drawings which illustrate one of the various possible embodiments of the present ln-' vention, but to which the. present invention is by no means restricted. since many changes and alternatives are possible, all within the scope of the present-invention,

Fig. 1 is a side view of an automotive vehicle showing the application of the present invention to conceal the handle structures,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryside view showing one or the closures of. Fig. liupon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 1, I v

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the cover withdrawn and the handle in accessible position.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views upon the lines H and 5-4 of Fig.3, the handle in Fig.5 being shown" removed irom the solid line position of the handle as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,

Fig. 6 is a rear view upon the line H 0i. Fig. 4 showing the reciprocating latch element in solid 1ines,-and

Figs. 7 and 8 are horizontal transverse sectiona] views of alternative handle constructions.

Referring to Fig. 1, the automobile body A is provided with-the doors Band C which have the handle structures D and .E shown with the cowl0 "ers closed.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 6, the handle structure E includes a recess or recessed casing F. a handle G and a reciprocating latch H.

The casing F consists of a bottom wall II and 18 side walls II, which may beiormed together with the front panel i 2 of the door structure C. The bottom I. of the recess F may be substantially inside of the inside panel l3 of the door structure c The end wall H of the door 0 forms part of the recessed casing F and is flush with the flange II. This flange I5 is integral with the rear panel ii. The end wall portion H is provided with a continuation which is bent over into a U-shaped 25 channel I at the front of the door, the legs of which channel are separated to i'orma slot l1. in which may be received the end I. oi the sliding cover l9.

The projection 20 on the endof said sliding so panel 2| may consist of a varnish or other .suita able finish or may consist of an extra sheet metal covering.

The handle G is provided with a pivotal mount 20 in the bottom ill of the recessed member I".

The pivotal mounting 29 has a reduced square or as polygonal portion 3| extending through the opening 30 in the 'base III of the recess F. The shoulder or collar 32 on said pivotal mount 2! abuts the bottom of the recess F, as shown best in Figs.

4 and 5.

' The pivot, mount 29 at its. outer end is enlarged. as indicated at 33, and is slotted as indicated at '34. Through the slotted portion I4 passes the pivot pin 35.

Coiled around the pivot pin 35 is the central f 2| abuts the 3 portion of the expulsion or retraction spring 36. The spring 36 has an inside extension 31 which may abut against the side 39 of the post 29 when the spring is an expulsion spring or which may be permanently attached and secured to .the side 38 of the pivot mount, as by welding, by wire loops, and so forth when the spring is a retraction spring and an outside extension 39 fitting into the recess 49 in the elongated portion ll of the handle structure G.

The rear portion of the handle 4| is provided with a recess 42 which fits over the enlarged portion 33 of the pivot mount 29 and encloses the slot 35 and the coil spring 36. I

The rear end 43 of the elongated structure 4| is provided with a beveled face 44 whichis designed to abut the sloping face 45 of the pivot mount 29 and limit outward extension of the handle G to the position as indicated in Fig. 5.

The spring 36 normally retains the handle. G in the position as indicated in Fig. 4 and the handle G is only moved to the position of Fig.

by the hand of the user.

It will be noted in Fig. 5 that the handle portion ll may be moved out sufllciently by the hand to clear the outside edge of the recess F. The

extension '3I' of the pivot mount 29 carries the pinion 50. The pinion 59 may be press-fitted upon the square or polygonal shaped extension 3| of the pivot mount 29.

It will be noted in Fig. 6 that the pinion'ill meshes with the rack 5| on the reciprocating latch bar 52 in the latch structure-H.

The bar 52 is guided by the brackets 53 and 5|, which are attached to the top wall 2I-- of the recess F by the extensions 55. The lower edges of the brackets 53 and 54 are provided with the tabs 56 which may be spot-welded or otherwise connected to the base II) of the recess F. The beveled end portion 51 of the bar 52 is designed to latch into a suitable recess in the structure 58 of the automobile (see Fig. 1).

In operation the handles are retracted by the spring 36 to the position as indicated in solid lines in Figs. 3 and 4 and the covers l9 are closed as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, as for example by spring or other automatic means, if desired.

When, however, it is desirable to open the door from the outside, the covers l9 of the structures D and E may be placed in retracted position, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and the handles G may be removed from the recess and turned 90 :0 gvithdraw the latch H, as indicated in Figs. 3

It will be noted from the dotted line positions of Figs. 3 and 4 and the solid' line position of Fig. 5, that there can be suflicient movement of the handle G to clear the edges of the recess F when it is swung to the 90 opening position.

When the door C has been opened a spring may be provided in connection with the pivot mount 29 to swing the handle back to the solid line positions, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, whereupon the retraction spring 36 will immediately snap the handle back into the recess F and the cover I9 may be manually or automatically closed.

If desired, instead of locking the handles themselves, the cover plates"l9 may be provided with locks to lock the car when parked.

This same recessed construction may also be applied to the handles interiorly positioned on the insides of the doors B and C for opening the doors or for raising or lowering the windows.

It will be noted particularly that all sliding of receives the extension I6 of the pivot mount 29'.

The coil spring I8 is received in the extension I6 and abuts the pivot mount 29 at the bottom of the extension 16. The other end of the coil spring I6 abuts against the bottom of the sleeve I5 at I9.

The base 80' of the sleeve contacts with the inside plate I3 of the door structure C. The

pivot mount 29', and particularly the sleeve extension l6 thereof, is also designed to slide through the pinion 50'. The pinion 50 is enclosed in a casing 8|, through openings in the end walls 62 and 83 of which project the bar 52. The bottom or rear 84 of the casing 8| is abutted by the flange 85 of the sleeve I5.

In operation, as soon as the door I9 is retracted by the handle the handle G will immediately be projected outwardly by the spring I6 acting upon the bottom 11 of the recess formed by the sleeve I6. This will permit the handle G to be grasped and moved to unlatch the door through the pinion 50' and the latch bar 52'.

After opening of the door, the handle G is pressed back into the recess F and the cover I9 is moved home.

The alternative construction shown in Fig. 8 differs from that shown in Fig. '7, in that a double telescoping connection is employed to enable greater separation and removal of the handle G from the recess F.

In the structure of Fig. 8, similarly functioning parts are indicated by the same numerals or letters as in Figs. 1 to '7 provided, however, with a 45 superior 2.

' In the construction of Fig. 8, there is an intermediate sleeve 90, which fits around the sleeve extension I6 of the pivot mount 29 of the handle G'and fits inside of the sleeve 15. The coil spring I9 extends through the sleeve elements I5 90 and I6 and abuts at its inside end against the bottom I9 of the sleeve I5 The three sleeve portions I6, 90 and I5 are square and fit inside of one another. The end of the sleeve 15 is turned inwardly as indicated at 9| to limit the removal of the sleeve 90, and the inner end of the sleeve 96 is provided with an intumed flange 32 to engage said inside flange 9lin position as shown in Fig. 8.

The outside end of the sleeve 90 is provided with an inturned flange 93 which engages the outturned flange 64 at the inside end of the sleeve portion 16. These engaging flanges 9i and 92 and 93 and 6! limit the extension of the handle G from the recess F.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has provided a simple, inexpensive, attractive construction for concealing door handles upon automobiles, which is also applicable for other purposes, in which not only will the exterior of the car be more decorative, but, in addition, the liability of these handles catching on objects or injuring persons willbe greatly reduced. Furthermore the locking of the car is much simpler.

The depressions, recesses or boxes F, F, F", will be invisible when the handles G, G, Ci are enclosed therein and covered by the sliding ele-' ments, l9, -iii and i9". The sliding elements l9, l9, iii slide in guideways or runways 24 in back of the upper and lower edges of said boxes F, F and F. q

The guideways or runways 24 extend sufiiciently beyond the recesses F, F, F to enclose the upper and lower edges of the sliding cover l9, l9 and it! even when completely withdrawn.

i The springs 36, i8 and 18" might be omitted and the handles moved to extended or concealed position without any spring element.

If desired, the springs 18 and 18 might be retraction springs instead of extension springs and the spring 36 might be an expulsion spring similar to the springs 18 and 18.

The pivot mount 29 may be provided with a spring to move the handle G back automatically from the position of Fig. 5 to the solid line positionof Fig. 3 when the door B or C has been opened and the handle G released by the hand. .Thesliding covers l9 may be arranged so that they could be'swung out of position either upwardly or downwardly, as for example on a pivotal mount. v

The handle G and the recesses F might also be constructed as disclosed in my application Ser.

"roughened, corrugated or grooved to eliminate slippage.

The protection of the handle in the recess F and the face plate I9 will also prevent accumulation of snow or dirt thereon during winter or on driving on dirt roads or through dust storms.

It is to be understood, of course, that the construction of the present application may be utilized in connection with other closures or doors than used on automobiles, as for example upon closures or doors used on closets and so forth. i

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular-construction or arrangementofparta-or to anyparticular application of any such construction, or to any specific method of operation, or manner of use, or to any of various details thereof, herein shown and described, as the same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, the practical "embodiments herein illustrated and described merely showing some of the various features entering into the application of the invention. What is claimed is:-

1. An automobile door construction comprising i door to receive said actuator sliding plate means to cover said cup shaped recess, guideways at the edges of said recess to receive and guide edges of said plate and means to enable said handle to be elevated from said recess for actuation of said latch, said handle being normally positioned entirely within said recess when said cover is closed.

2. An automobile door construction comprising a reciprocating latch, an actuator to move said handle into said recess actuated.

said latch, a handle for said actuator, a recess in said door to receive said actuator, a sliding plate to cover said recess, guideways at the edges of said recess to receive and guide edges of said plate and means to enable said handle to be elevated from said recess for actuation of said latch, said handle being normally positioned entirely withinsaid recess when said cover is closed.

3. An automobile door construction comprising a latch, an actuator to move said latch, a

handle for said actuator, a recess in said door to receive said actuator, a sliding plate to cover,

said recess flush with said door, guideways at the edges of said recess to receive and guide edges of said plate and means to enable said handle to be elevated from said recess for actuation of said latch, said handle being normally positioned entirely within said recesswhen said cover is closed.

4. An automobile door construction comprising a latch, an actuator having'a swinging handle to move said latch, a recess in said door to receive said actuator. sliding plate means to cover said recess, guideways at the edges of said recess to receive and guide edges of said plate and means to enable said handle to be "elevated from said recess for actuation of said latch, said handle being normally positioned entirely within said recess when said cover is closed.

5. In an automobile door construction, aface plate, an end plate, a back plate, a latch bar between said plates projecting through said end face plate, a cover plate to cover said recess and spring means" enabling said handle to be elevated from said recess when said handle is actuated.

6. The. construction of claim 5, said cover plate being provided with a sliding connection to said front plate.

'7. The construction of claim 5, said pivot mount being provided with a spring to press said handle out of the recesswhen said cover plate is removed. V

8. The construction of claim 5, said pivot mount being provided with a spring to retract after said latch is 9. The combination of an automobile door with an outer panel having a relatively deep wide recess formed in the outer panel thereof, a reciprocating latch positioned adjacent said'recess and an elongated handle memberto actuate said latch, said handle member having a pivot mount at the bottom of said recess extending perpendicularly through the means to hold said handle entirely within said recess when not in use and so as not to project beyond said panel and also of said handle from said recess when the handle is grasped by the hand. preparatory to operation of said latch within the upper portion thereof and below the surface of the outer panel, said bottom of the recess and to permit elevation I plate, a recess in said face plate, said recess havpivotal mount extending handle being substantially spaced from-the botsaid last mentioned means including a sliding cover to hold said handle entirely within said recess.

10. The combination of an automobile door with an outer panel having a relatively deep wide recess formed in the-outer panel thereof, a reciprocating latch positioned adjacent said recess and an elongated handle member to actuate said latch, said handle member having a pivot mount at the bottom of said recess extending perpendicularly through the bottom of the recess and means to hold said handle entirely within saidrecess when not in use and so as not to project beyond said panel and also to permit elevation of said handle from said recess whenthe handle is grasped by the hand preparatory to operation of said latch within the upper portion thereof and below the surface of the outer panel, said handle being substantially spaced from the bottom and sides of said recess as to enable said handle to be grasped while held in said recess, said last mentioned means including a coil spring and said pivot mount having a telescoping tubular construction to receive said coil spring.

11. An automobile door having front, back and edge panels, said front panel being recessed and said recess having bottom and side plates, the bottom plate being parallel to said front and back panels, a. removable coverplate for saidrecess substantiallyiiush with said front panel, a reciprocating latch positioned in back of said recess closely adjacent the bottom plate of said recess, said edge panel having an opening through which said latch may project, a pivot mount extending perpendicularly through the bottom plate of said recess carrying a pinion in back of said bottom plate, a rack on said latch meshing with said pinion, a handle connected to said pivot mount at the outer end thereof, said handle being retained within said recess when not in use and being elevated from said recess, when in use, a coil spring actuated when said handle is withdrawn from said recess and biasing said handle in one direction, guideways at the edges of said recess to receive and guide the edges of said cover plate, said handle being positioned entirely within said recess when said cover plate is moved to cover said recess.

12. An automobile door construction comprising an outer panel having a recess, a handle having a pivotal mount extending through the recessed portion of said panel, means to project said handle from said recess and means to hold said handle within said recess, said former means including a coil spring and said latter means including a cover plate for the recess.

13. An automobile door construction comprising an outer panel having a recess, a handle having a pivotal mount extending through the recessed portion of said panel, means to project said handle from saidrecess and means to hold said handle within said recess, said former means including a coil spring and said latter means including a cover plate for the recess, said pivot mount being tubular and having telescoping sections and said coil spring being enclosed within said sections and pressing said sections apart.

HENRY BREWSTER. 

